Chapter 30: Cash is Justice

The sunlight was glorious, and a gentle breeze was blowing.

Gu Mo, wearing that tattered, moth-eaten yellow bodysuit, was strolling leisurely with his hands clasped behind his back.

He looked much more like a cheerful, elderly grandfather.

Though somewhat unkempt, what could one possibly do about it?

Unexpectedly, the strolling Gu Mo was even humming a melodious little tune, feeling exceptionally delighted inside.

"I'm so happy today, the old wolf invites me to eat chicken~
Dang-ge-li-ge-dang-ge-dang~
Dang-ge-li-ge-dang-ge-dang~
You make a phone call and I don't answer, what's the use of calling anyway~
Dang-ge-li-ge-dang-ge-dang~
Dang-ge-li-ge-dang-ge-dang~
..."

As for why Gu Mo was in such high spirits, the reason was simple!

That note Gu Mo had left for Xiao Yulou was densely packed with a list of daily necessities.

A rough estimate suggested that those daily supplies and provisions would cost Xiao Yulou at least ten thousand yuan.

Even a wealthy landowner had no surplus grain left, so collecting some rent as the landlord was not really unreasonable.

"Who told that creepy guy to constantly scam me? Serves him right!"

Just as his voice trailed off, Gu Mo chuckled a few times.

Yet the moment he raised his eyes, the smile on Gu Mo's face instantly froze. It froze harder than reinforced concrete!

Looking closely, Xia Wuqi of the White Lotus Sect was sitting on the steps of the incense and candle shop.

This delicate youth was dressed in an untainted, pure white robe, playfully twirling an exquisite writing brush in his hand.

With a severe jolt to his heart, Gu Mo raised his left eyebrow, inevitably harboring a wave of inner reflection.

'Sigh~ Is this little punk here to deliver money again?'

At this thought, Gu Mo immediately strode forward and walked straight toward the incense and candle shop.

Shuffle, shuffle—

After a few steps, the delightfully wicked Xia Wuqi slowly stood up and looked at Gu Mo with a smile.

It had only been half a month since they last met, yet Xia Wuqi looked even more refined, giving off an otherworldly aura.

Suddenly, Xia Wuqi broke into a broad smile and spoke.

"Boss Gu has been so busy lately! I've staked out the place for three days without running into you. Is the incense shop out of business?"

Hearing this, Gu Mo's face also assumed a mask of hypocritical politeness.

"Boss Xia comes from wealth and prestige; how can an ordinary commoner like me compare? If I don't open for business, I'll have to survive on thin air."

After this brief exchange of words, Gu Mo took out his key and stepped forward to unlock the door.

With a click, they pushed the door open and entered.

Accompanied by the fresh air, the two sat down at the table one after the other.

Gu Mo looked at the unopened barrel of bottled water, then boiled some water to brew tea.

In no time, the fragrance of tea filled the air.

Gu Mo picked up the teapot, poured a cup for Xia Wuqi, and said in a deep voice.

"What kind of ill wind blew Boss Xia here?"

Hearing this, a hint of an inscrutable smile surfaced on Xia Wuqi's face.

"Boss Gu, what a lavish gesture?"

Gu Mo was momentarily startled upon hearing this, but a second later, he decided to put on an act and let out a heavy sigh.

"Not at all. Boss Xia, just look at my incense shop. Though the inventory is decent, the meager earnings aren't enough to cover internal expenses."

With that, Gu Mo raised his leg and pointed at his tattered clothes, saying.

"In this shabby state... in a few days, I'll be poor enough to go begging for food!"

Upon hearing this, Xia Wuqi slowly picked up his teacup and took a light sip.

Seeing this, Gu Mo's eyes immediately rolled around. A belly full of wicked schemes instantly began to churn violently.

The owner of the incense and candle shop swayed his body from side to side and spoke in a pitiful, delicate tone.

"Boss Xia, you must reserve a protector's position in the White Lotus Sect for me. Who knows, maybe one day I'll bring Xiao Yulou and surrender directly!"

Hearing this, a wisp of golden light suddenly flashed within Xia Wuqi's eyes, which were as clear as spring water.

"Haha~"

With a light chuckle, Xia Wuqi put down the teacup in his hand and said with a smile.

"Does Boss Gu mean what he says?"

Hearing this, Gu Mo immediately put on an innocent and harmless expression, nodding in agreement.

"Truer than real fruit pulp!"

***

As soon as these words were spoken, Gu Mo and Xia Wuqi laughed heartily at the same time, like old friends of many years.

Just as the laughter gradually subsided, taking advantage of Gu Mo topping off Xia Wuqi's tea, Xia Wuqi, sitting opposite him, suddenly spoke in a sarcastic and eerie tone.

"Even if my White Lotus Sect cordially invites Boss Gu to join, I'm afraid the 749 General Sundries Factory wouldn't agree, would they?"

Saying this, Xia Wuqi leaned back in his chair and burst into loud laughter.

"Hahahaha~"

Hearing this chilling laughter, Gu Mo suppressed the urge to shudder all over, picked up his teacup, and continued his verbal sparring with Xia Wuqi.

"Sigh~ Boss Xia is mistaken. The benefits at the 749 Sundries Company are far too poor; how could they compare to Boss Xia's generous spending!"

With that said, Xia Wuqi, sitting across from him, suddenly waved one hand.

At the sight of this, Gu Mo immediately clenched his fists tightly, thinking to himself:

'Come on, come on, the dagger is finally revealed from the map! Even if I can't beat you to death, I'll beat you into a facial paralysis!'

Who would have thought that in the next second, five stacks of crisp, hundred-yuan banknotes would land steadily on the table?

Looking at this full fifty thousand yuan in cash, Gu Mo was completely thrown into disarray.

Although Gu Mo already possessed quite a few gold bars and bricks, and he hadn't spent much of the money Xia Wuqi gave him last time...

What on earth was Xia Wuqi plotting?

In this world, was there really someone who enjoyed bludgeoning people with cash?

Could it be that this little punk wanted to sleep with me?

At this thought, Gu Mo broke out in a cold sweat.

Outwardly, however, Gu Mo suppressed his inner turmoil and calmly said in a nonchalant voice.

"What is the meaning of this, Boss Xia?"

Hearing this, the delicate-looking Xia Wuqi smiled wickedly and slowly said.

"Nothing. I, Xia Wuqi, never owe anyone anything, that's all."

With these words, Gu Mo was completely dumbfounded.

The confusion in his mind was like a pot of porridge about to boil over; it was impossible to figure out what Xia Wuqi was up to!

"Oh? When did Boss Xia owe me money? How come I wasn't aware of it!"

Hearing this, the bizarre-beyond-belief Xia Wuqi leaned forward and spoke softly.

"When the Blood Lotus Sect was caught off guard, Boss Gu mysteriously and elusively dealt with the Well of Gods and Demons. This bit of remuneration is only fair!"

At this point, Gu Mo finally had an epiphany.

Judging by Xia Wuqi's words, the training ground known as the Well of Gods and Demons had long been claimed under the banner of the Blood Lotus Sect.

And the reason the Blood Lotus Sect was caught off guard was undoubtedly related to their attack on the Underworld.

Yet Gu Mo had run off to execute a mission at the Well of Gods and Demons entirely because he was lured and dragged there by Li Hetang.

That being said, why did Xia Wuqi know all this?

...

Unable to figure it out, Gu Mo simply stared coldly at the fifty thousand yuan on the table.

Who would ever think money was too hot to touch?

Not taking it would make him a fool!

Yet... if he accepted this money, it would undoubtedly attract unnecessary trouble!

At this thought, Gu Mo still curved the corners of his mouth into a wicked smile.

"Boss Xia, this money feels too hot for me to handle. Will I even be able to sleep at night thinking about it?"

Upon hearing this, Xia Wuqi, sitting opposite him, took another sip of tea, letting the fragrance spread throughout his mouth.

"Boss Gu need not decline, because..."

Xia Wuqi paused mid-sentence and flipped his hand once more.

Another five stacks of crisp banknotes appeared on the table.

Seeing this, Gu Mo was utterly stunned.

He had seen madmen, but never one this insane!

It seemed that the one hundred thousand yuan on the table was nothing more than a stack of cheap A4 paper in Xia Wuqi's eyes.

This kind of spending could no longer be described as lavish; it was utterly unhinged!

Regaining his composure, Gu Mo's expression sank instantly. He reached out and filled Xia Wuqi's teacup right to the absolute brim.

The implication was already crystal clear!

Serve tea seven parts full, rice eight parts, but fill wine to the brim.

As the owner of the incense shop, Gu Mo was essentially starting to evict his guest!

Yet Xia Wuqi, sitting across from him, paid no heed to these tedious formalities. After draining the tea in one gulp, he showed no signs of leaving at all.

Seeing this, Gu Mo grew quite exasperated.

Unexpectedly, the bizarre Xia Wuqi spoke up once again.

"Master Si in Xiangxi and Tang Xianshan from the Tang Sect were both dealt with by Boss Gu, weren't they?"

***

Hearing this, Gu Mo felt his stomach tighten and his heroic frame shudder. Beads of sweat as large as soybeans instantly sprouted like bamboo shoots after a spring rain!

How did Xia Wuqi know about this? Could this kid also be entangled with the 749 Sundries Company?

Following that, Xia Wuqi actually began to slowly clap his hands.

Clap, clap, clap~

"Boss Gu has unique methods. Aside from myself, I reckon absolutely no more than three people know about this!"

With these words, a cold sweat broke out across Gu Mo's back once again.

The Xia Wuqi before him always observed everything from a god's-eye perspective.

Yet what game this little punk was playing remained a mystery to Gu Mo.

With no other choice, Gu Mo offered a faint smile and remained silent.

Silence is golden; even Xia Wuqi had no idea what Gu Mo was thinking.

After all, not even Gu Mo himself had any clear idea of what he was thinking.

This was the art of defeating an opponent by having no predictable moves at all!

"Boss Xia is a person of standing, so why keep targeting me, Gu Mo?"

Hearing this, Xia Wuqi, having finished his tea, casually waved a hand. Combined with that eerie smile of his, it was bizarre to the extreme!

"Boss Gu... you can simply regard this as an employment contract. As the leader of the White Lotus Sect, if I were to take action personally, it would inevitably invite gossip. But..."

At this point, Xia Wuqi raised an eyebrow and stared wickedly at Gu Mo, causing Gu Mo's heart to skip a beat.

He couldn't shake the feeling that the person sitting opposite him was not a normal human being at all, but a venomous snake with a blood-red tongue flicking out!

It felt as though in the next second, Xia Wuqi might sink his fangs deep into Gu Mo's neck.

This wasn't hiring someone with money; it was pure, unadulterated intimidation.

To think that delivering money could evoke such an atmosphere of threat—Xia Wuqi truly was no ordinary person.

He was extraordinary!

He never played by the rules!

At this thought, Gu Mo took a deep breath and stared back coldly at Xia Wuqi.

"Boss Xia, what if I refuse?"

At those words, Xia Wuqi's hand suddenly transformed into a claw.

With a whoosh!

A viscous, black liquid-like aura flashed fiercely right past Gu Mo's ear.

As steady as a monolith, Gu Mo calmly took a sip of his tea without the slightest intention of retaliating.

Yet a subtle, elegant fragrance brushed against his nostrils...

With a snap!

In the span of a single breath, Xia Wuqi had magically snatched an incense burner right off the shelf.

Looking closer:

Xia Wuqi played with the incense burner in his hand with a demonic expression and spoke in a deep voice.

"One hundred thousand is a fair price to buy a belief!"

At these words, Gu Mo slowly and wickedly smiled.

"In that case, Boss Xia, do you perhaps have another arrangement in mind?"

Hearing this, Xia Wuqi burst into hearty laughter.

"Clever!"

The bizarre Xia Wuqi paused slightly and continued.

"There is an abandoned railway hospital near the south side of the city, which serves as a sanctuary for the Blood Lotus Sect. Since there is no one guarding it, Boss Gu might as well uproot them entirely!"

Hearing this, Gu Mo felt his heart jolt.

Good grief~

This Xia Wuqi was adept at the art of 'killing without a knife'!

Shouldn't he return the favor with a 'strike that destroys the heart'?

Before Gu Mo could voice his agreement, Xia Wuqi stood up abruptly, clutching the incense burner bought for one hundred thousand yuan, leaving Gu Mo with nothing but his retreating back.

A profound remark drifted over:

"Boss Gu, the world is not simply black and white! But cash is justice!"

Hearing this, Gu Mo twisted his facial features in exasperation and muttered a retort under his breath.

"What a lunatic..."

***